Prince Hisahito celebrates 6th birthday

Prince Hisahito, the third in line for the Japanese throne, celebrated his birthday on Sept. 6, and the Imperial Household Agency told reporters about the recent activities of the new 6-year-old.

Hisahito, the son of Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko, participated in a kindergarten field trip and a potato-digging activity. He made a wall newspaper about the recent annular eclipse and other events and also took part in creating “koinobori” carp streamers.

The young prince possesses a green thumb. The agency said he raised and harvested vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, in a yard at his residence. He is currently growing rice plants in a bucket and is looking forward to the harvest in autumn, according to the agency.

Hisahito also has a leaning toward entomology. He tended to different types of insects and observed a cicada nymph shed its exoskeleton. Hisahito also collected insects with Emperor Akihito in the Imperial Palace compound.

In July, Hisahito visited Hokkaido with his parents. He observed “marimo” moss balls at Lake Akanko and viewed a puppet play showing a ritual of the indigenous Ainu people.

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